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The Land Use and Air Quality Connection. Presented By: Larry Robinson SMAQMD Land Use & Transportation Section. Why is Air Quality Important?. Ozone: non-attainment Particulate Matter: non-attainment Climate Change: worsens air pollution. The Health Effects.
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The Land Use and Air Quality Connection Presented By: Larry Robinson SMAQMD Land Use & Transportation Section
Why is Air Quality Important? Ozone: non-attainment • Particulate Matter: non-attainment • Climate Change: worsens air pollution
The Health Effects Aggravated asthma & new cases • 20% of children in Sacramento County have asthma (4th highest in the state; Lake & Mendocino Counties at 8%) • Costs for asthmatics exceed $1.3 billion annually in CA • Increased respiratory and cardiovascular problems • 14% higher heart disease rate in Sacramento County vs. CA average • Reduced resistance to infection, increased fatigue, or weakened athletic performance • 1.3 million school absence days could be avoided annually
The Environmental Effects • Ozone can damage crops, forests, native plants and property • Particulate contributes to reduced visibility in urban and pristine areas • Climate change has the potential to increase air pollution and energy demand
Why is Land Use Important to Air Quality? • Mobile sources remain the primary source of ozone in the Sacramento region; contribute largely to greenhouse gases and to a lesser extent particulate emissions • Land use directly influences travel, therefore mobile source emissions • Individual land use decisions dictate overall travel behavior
Why is Land Use Important to Air Quality? • Blueprint modeling for the 2035 Metropolitan Transportation Plan shows that Vehicle Miles Traveled per household can be reduced by 11% through better land use decisions • Blueprint is also the basis of the SMAQMD’s air quality attainment planning efforts • Not implementing Blueprint could jeopardize transportation funding
Air Quality Considerations Should be an Integral Part of Your Decision Making Process • Include air quality considerations in all your decisions • Utilize your experts • More information to be provided on land use studies
SMAQMD’s Project Review Process • Staff receives project documents from local jurisdictions and other agencies (CEQA and others) • Various tools utilized to evaluate the air quality impacts of each project • Staff coordinates with other agencies and individuals • Mitigation measures recommended • Design modifications may be recommended • Testimony provided to recommending and approving bodies as necessary Please contact SMAQMD staff if you have project specific questions…
Staff Contact Information Jeane Borkenhagen 916-874-4885 Climate Change Joseph (J.J.) Hurley 916-874-2694 Cities of Sacramento and Folsom Rachel DuBose 916-874-4876 City of Citrus Heights North & Central Sacramento County Karen Huss 916-874-4881 City of Galt Charlene McGhee 916-874-4883 City of Elk Grove South Sacramento County Paul Philley 916-874-4882 City of Rancho Cordova Land Use & Transportation SectionLarry Robinson, Program Coordinator 916-874-4816
Thank You for Your TimeQuestions and Comments? www.airquality.org